Emberiza montana, LINNÆUS; L'Ortolan de Montagne, BUFFON; Der
Bergammer, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is smaller than the snow bunting, has a short, strong yellow
beak, with a black point; the head is nearly flat, the frontal band
light chestnut; the upper part of the neck and back grey, with black
streaks, most numerous on the back, causing a resemblance to the female
yellowhammer; feet black.
The breast of the female is of a deeper colour than the male's.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species, inhabiting the cold regions of Europe, is
never found in great numbers. In Thuringia, and some other provinces
of Germany, they are seen generally every year, in March, the time of
passage, settling in pairs along the high roads, searching for a few
undigested grains in the dung of animals. Their song is shrill,
tolerably pleasing, and interrupted like the yellowhammer's. They may
be easily kept in the house, either caged or not, feeding them on
oats, bread, hemp, and other seeds. These birds also appear uneasy
during the night, especially in the pairing season, uttering their
call amidst the darkness. Some are occasionally met with of a dull
orange on the upper part of the body, streaked with yellow on the
head, and deep orange on the back. These are young birds. This
species is caught in the same manner as the snow bunting.